"Wise! And that means we can mix and match things too!" Manteca begins to whale away on his comms unit, ordering a mix of different species' food. "I've never had formian cuisine before, but their vegetarian options look intriguing... Oh, uh... I assume you'd prefer meat?" Manteca wiggles his antenna. "Not saying that vesk are all carnivores, but... Let's just say I've yet to talk to the soldiering crowd and find many with compunctions about eating flesh."
Eric sends a stock reply to the incoming Starfinder
To: Reynotto O'Spec
Human Reynotto O'Spec: Greetings. I have attached specific global positioning data to this message. The Ship you are looking for is the Sunrise Maiden. Please fill out the attached survey so that I might add data to my analytics algorithm.
Reynotto notices that the survey is some seven thousand questions long and exhaustive.
As he walks he fills out questions, hoping that the team might benefit from the survey in some way
"Nothing raw, thanks. A good rare steak would be great though." You really start to see why people are afraid of Vesk at this point. Teeth almost like fangs, glistening with saliva as her tongue flicks over her lips. You can imagine what it must feel like to have that maw gazing down at you as it is about to tear open your throat.
That is if you are anyone that is paying any attention to these things, which Manteca is not. Too busy deriving his own concoction of local cuisine.
Manteca nods agreeably and adds 3 orders of yauruk steaks to the menu, adding additional instructions to keep it rare. The entire order is much, much larger than three people would eat normally - and that's not even factoring in EH-RK's synthetic nature. Manteca seems quite pleased with the order, though, and plots a course on the GPS to steer them back to the ship. He shoots EH-RK another text.
From: Manteca
Dinner ordered - doing take-out. Hope you like yauruk!
And then a jumble of food-related emojis and then what looks like an accidentally-taken photo of the ground.
"I wonder what kind of people the society will send us now?" Boreal says thinking out loud as they walk. "You and EH-RK aren't much use in a fight and if things keep like they are, we are going to be doing a lot more fighting."
"I'd sent a request to Chiskisk and the Soociety to that effect," Manteca says as he adds an order of Brethedan rangoon to the ever-growing list of incoming food deliveries. "Now that I think about it,
I'm not sure if I followed standard personnel request procedures... Do you remember what it said in the handbook? Wait... Did we even get a handbook?? Oh god, what is Chiskisk going to think if I violated protocol..." The shirren wrings his claws anxiously the whole way back to the ship.
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EH-RK blinks at the question from Jazzming
Human Jazzming Brokato: The other members of the crew are all carbon based humanoids. They mostly have hexadecimal based carbon riboneucleic eukaryotic cells. Physiologically they are typical for their species..... Eric continues on with a lengthy 20 minute lecture on alien culture and physiology and then at the end says Human Jazzming Brokato: I see you packed extra undergarments. That is good. My analysis shows that we reach peak effectiveness at three point seven two sets of undergarments.
TO: Manteca Imani
Shirren Manteca Imani: I do not eat.
Mantecas request is answered immediately with a short To late for requests. The backup is already on the way." by Chiskisk.
Boreal and Manteca just enter the space port, as Manteca gets another messsage form the delivery service, to come out of the ship as the delivery is there. Hurrying to the ship they find an annoyed delivery gal who is already waiting two minutes. The food changes the owner.
As Reynotto chew he says Care to inform me on our previous mission here? The society's report was wanting
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"Right," Jazzming said slowly as they turned the corner and stepped in front of the ship. Truly she was a gorgeous specimen, with sleek curves from for to aft, and the coloration were very eye catching. Standing in front of the loading bay were two beings, a shirren and vesk, unloading packages from a delivery transporter. Giving the files one more look over before approaching. "Hello, would you two be Doctor Manteca Imani and Boreal Typhon, Daughter of Zerukesh "Hornbreaker" Typhon, Daughter of Tarsonis "Jaeger" Typhon? I am Jazzming Brokato, pilot for the Starfinder Society."
"Greetings Jazzming Brokato. I am Boreal Typhon, Daughter of Zerukesh "Hornbreaker" Typhon, Daughter of Tarsonis "Jaeger" Typhon." She says with a slight bow. "It is an honor to meet you. I look forward to working alongside you."
Everyone notices that Boreal's posture is a lot more rigid now, almost formal. Her speech patterns are also not as relaxed as they were when she was talking to Manteca. You can tell she is taken aback that someone actually got her name right but she is still reserved around the new face.
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"It is an honor to meet you as well, I have met several vesk in my travels, and they have all been honorable beings and a true pleasure to deal with," Jazzming said with a small smile. "Unfortunately, I've not had the pleasure of interacting with many shirren before, though I do consider Chiskisk a good acquaintance."
Ok, that last post is not relevant
The man walks near, making sure this was the right ship before he approaches I assume you are the people I was sent to assist and contacted? I'm Reynotto, and I understand you are in need of a healer and semi-decent sharpshooter. Might i have the pleasure of knowing all of your names?
Manteca, compared to Boreal, is downright ecstatic to meet the humans. "Manteca Imani, xenopsychologist, pleasure to meet both of you!" the shirren says excitedly, shaking hands with everyone, including Boreal in his excitement. "We're all so excited to have your fresh eyes on the case itself, and your skills as well - well, we've gone through a few pilots so far but none were Society-recommended, so this should be a real treat! And a dedicated healer! I've been doing my best with a medkit and a stern stomach, but having someone actually focused on medicine - what a treat!"
As the group gets to know each other, Manteca switches to telepathic speech in order to both enjoy his overpiled plate of food and communicate at the same time.
As far as our mission goes... we're pursuing information on a mysterious chunk of rock - well, technically a piece of an alien structure, we think - that was hauled to Absalom Station out of the Drift. Text in the structure had no known peers, except here on Castrovel - in the journals of a scholar known as Halkueem Zan, a sensationalist explorer and allegedly a bit of an ass, in otherwise unknown ruins deep in the unsettled continent Ukulam. Of the two scholars of Qabarat, one had almost been fired from the University for offensive rhetoric and the other has been seemginly whisked away by unsavory types, possibly pursuing the same information we are. Manteca slurps down an especially long noodle from some unknown dish before switching back into voicespeech. "That's all I can think of at the moment... EH-RK? Boreal Typhon? How'd I do?"
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After greeting the other Starfinder newcomer, Jazzming nodded her head to the shirren. "That seems to match up with the information I was given. That was also where you gained access to this ship, I believe? Honestly, the fact that she still runs so well is a testament to both her creators and the previous captain," she said, munching on some of the food. 'One of the best perks of traveling,' she thought to herself. "Tell me, are there still copies of the previous captain's logs? I would love to know more about what all they've done to it. Especially if I'm gonna be piloting her."
Manteca claps a claw to his forehead. "Right - the ship! I don't know anything about what could be on there for logs or records - that's something the pilots seemed to have under control so I didn't do much in the way of investigating. That said, she is a beautiful ship - thankfully everyone who was killed did so off the ship and on the Drift Rock so it's not like we need to worry about haunting or bloodstains or any of those things."
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As the impromptu feast wound down, Jazzming found herself wandering onto the bridge. "Faraday, now we know the ship model, download all specs and possible upgrades we can acquire," Jazzming spoke to her exocortex. "Honestly, if this thing really is as old as mentioned, she probably needs a tune-up soon." She sat down at the pilot station and ran her hands over the interface. "This will be a great job, Hawkings, I can tell." With that, she quickly started inspecting the controls and any information available.
As she waited for Faraday to find information on the ship, and her search algorithms to find...anything, really, she found an icon leading her to an AI program installed. Thinking about it briefly, she shrugged and hit it. "Faraday, Hawkings, be warned that an unknown AI is being brought online. Keep on the lookout for any electronic intrusions."
The Sunrise Maiden has some miles on the clock. The logs contain the adventures of Moriko Nash, the former owner of the ship. Nash traveled for about 17 years through the universe. The logs show some cargo transports, taxi service and a lot of joy rides to places off the beaten tracks.
You find that all data from former owners is deleted. The search for updates comes up empty. This old stuff was build sturdy and doesn't need an update every other day to not fall apart. Either that, or support was cancelled. This ship model is still built and in heavy use, but most parts got a hardware update and therefore the newer software doesn't match.
As the AI starts you hear a sad, whiney voice in the room that you can't locate. "Don’t pretend you want to talk to me, I know you hate me."
At the voice being audible throughout the ship, Boreal charges into the cockpit, doshko in hand, to try figure out what is going on, "Are there intruders on board?"
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"On the contrary, I would very much love to talk with you," Jazzming said with a smile before the vesk barged in. "Dont worry, Boreal Typhon, Daughter of Zerukesh "Hornbreaker" Typhon, Daughter of Tarsonis "Jaeger" Typhon, it seems the ship has a voice of her own and would like to talk to someone." Turning back to the interface, Jazzming continued, "Please, can you tell us your name? Or do you go by the ship's name?"
Boreal nods at Jazzming, lowering her doshko, but keeping it to hand. She is reassured by Jazzming but is obviously still on alert, leaning against the wall next to the door. "Jazzming Brokato, I don't know if I agree with you on it wanting to talk to someone..." She says.
"I only have to talk to somebody and they begin to hate me. Even robots hate me. If you just ignore me I expect I shall probably go away." the AI replies in the same monotonous, depressed tone.
Reynotto walks in "But AI, we don't want to ignore you. We don't hate you, and we would very much like to know your name"
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Giving a stern look at Boreal, Jazzming said, "Exactly, why would anybody want to hate you? That would be like hating Faraday or Hawkings.
For the first time, for everybody else, a voice chimed in from Jazzming's wrist in an overly synthesized tone. "Indeed, the logical fallacies of this thought process would imply that Creator-Jazzming would dislike us, her own creations. I, myself, find meeting you highly interesting, especially considering the knowledge you would have from so long ago."
"I think you ought to know I’m feeling very depressed."
"Well I wish you’d just ask some questions rather than try to engage my enthusiasm… "
EHRK looks up from his research
Artificial Intelligence Unknown Designation: What is your designation?
"I don't care about designation. Why don't you watch this door. It’s about to open again. I can tell by the intolerable air of smugness it suddenly generates."
Once everyone is done trying to cheer up the AI or trying to wring it's name from it the team prepares for the day to come by sleeping. The ship is big enough for all, and with middle class crew quarters there are actual beds in rooms and not a bunk on floor. But it is two people per room and with that the necessity arises to pair up for all but one.
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"I think this AI will be a tough nut to crack," Jazzming muttered as it shook off all attempts to learn anything about it. Shrugging her shoulders, she gave it up as a momentarily lost cause before turning to the others. "So, are there any current sleeping arrangements or is it first come, first serve?"
Manteca seems visibly agitated as the idea of sharing rooms is floated across. "I mean, traditionally we all had our own rooms prior, and I do maintain a modest holovid channel so I tend to keep odd-ish hours as the inspiration tends to strike intermittently and I try to capitalize on any sort of creative breakthroughs whenever they occur - of course I have no problem with a roommate myself, but I've found the hard way that such eccenticities as the creative endeavours demand can sometimes, um..."
For all his stated concerns, Mantecas weird cagey mood seems less to do with his 'creative endeavors' and more to do with something else.
Here's hoping my starfinder dice are not as bad as 5e, nope not bad at all
I can sleep in the medbay if need be, I might as well familiarize myself with it
As EH-RK doesn't care one way or the other and is no expert in sensing hidden motives - no matter how poorly they're hidden - he suggests Manteca gets a room for himself, while the sharing should be grouped according to gender as this has the lowest probability of causing tensions in the crew on the long run.
For a lack of better proposals the rooms are occupied by Manteca, Jazz together with Boreal and EH-RK with Reynotto. Even if he really wants to sleep on the easy cleanable steel bed in the med bay for this night.
A space port is no silent place, and noise cancellation is no priority when constructing space-ships, as space tends to be very silent. Which causes a not too good sleep.
Once everyone is up and ready to go, you take last preparations for the trip.
EH-RK makes a call to Alibiens 21:2. He is not done with his work, at least not in a way he is satisfied with it. But leaving the doctor to it would result in another publication worthy essay that'd fill a book or two. With much explanation where his work is still lacking he finally sends the electronic form of Halkueem Zan's notes together with some annotations and twenty pages of explanation.
The travel authorities to Turhalu Point for the new members of the crew have arrived too.
A short trip with a hover taxi later, you're at the portal and Gate Controller Raiyiri sends you through.
The station at Turhalu Point sits at the tip of a broad peninsula covered in rolling plains and expanses of tall, pale-green grasses that shimmer with violet hues in the wind. Short-lived blooms of magenta fungus tower nearly twenty feet over the landscape, though many have begun to wilt and others are marred by bite marks of half a dozen sizes. Trumpeting calls echo across the plains as immense, six-legged creatures with long, swooping necks trek steadily across the grass toward the western jungles. Beyond rises the Singing Range, its peaks barely visible through the haze.
Once one of Qabarat’s minor military outposts on Ukulam, Turhalu Point has been decommissioned for more than 20 years. It still maintains a token security force to keep the wildlife at bay, but industrious researchers have converted most of its gun turrets and bunkers into greenhouses and biology labs.
As you leave the poral on this side you are already expected and greeted by a human man. "Greetings, I'm Dr. Khair al-Nuaf, I got informed by Professor Muhali, that you're coming."
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"Well, Boreal Typhon, Daughter of Zerukesh "Hornbreaker" Typhon, Daughter of Tarsonis "Jaeger" Typhon, it seems that it's just the two of us tonight. Are there any sleeping peculiarities I should be aware of?" Jazzming asked with respect. "While I've met several vesk, to my lament this is my first time sleeping near one."
As they stepped through the gateway, an exciting moment for Jazzming, she looked around in wonder. While she wouldn't give up her piloting life for anything, even she had to admit that there was sheer beauty in the wildlife surrounding the small outpost.
Human Dr. Khair al-Nuaf: It is our pleasure to greet you warmly. Eric says, with absolutely no warmth, its like he read somewhere that he should say that when greeting Humans.
Eric then transmits several datafiles to Dr. al-Nuaf informing him of their purpose. Human Dr. Khair al-Nuaf: Which way to the route Dr. Solstarni took into the wilderness?
"I got informed already on the purpose of your visit and have compiled some information. That mysterious Paqual and his group came and departed into the wilderness a little more than day ago. The group consisted largely of armed lashunta mercenaries."
"Based on what I overheard, they were headed toward some elven ruins to the northwest to perform archaeological survey work with the oversight of Dr. Solstarni, though the kasatha appeared to be groggy and perhaps ill."
"We have numerous maps of the region and survey data from aircraft that have flown over most of the continent. If you got something in your data that gives an idea about where that elven ruins would be, I can help you to find where exactly they went." Dr. Khair al-Nuaf offers.
Human Dr. Khair al-Nuaf: Perhaps something that will cross reference with this script EHRK sends over a copy of the DriftRockScript and with the travels of one Halkueem Zan. Did the Explorer Zan travel in this region, and if so did he travel to one of the Elven Ruins?
"Let us check." al-Nuaf offers. He leads to one of the large meeting rooms with access to the maps. Together with EH-RK he checks the notes of Zan and marks the landmarks that are identifiable from the text.
In the end the markings show a clear path to where Zan went with his expedition. Al-Nuaf suggests a slightly different route to the same target. H estimates that the journey to the abandoned city will take about 10 to 12 days of steady travel on foot and advises you to take a route that leads through the fairly sparse lowlands around Turhalu Point, into the dense subtropical rain forests to the northwest, and finally into the foothills of the Singing Range.
"The university has instructed me to assist you by providing you with additional gear. I can offer you a scratched-up suit of lashunta ringwear II armor, a carbon steel curve blade, a stickybomb grenade II, 4 doses of tier-1 antitoxin, and 4 doses of sprayflesh."
"Also 3 weeks’ worth of field rations for each of you, standard ammunition, and if you need to recharge some batteries..."
"If you're not prepared for 'camping' I can also provide consumer backpacks and mass-produced tents."
The Night Before....
Manteca goes into his room and collapses against the door. Oh my god - that was close. Manteca takes out the cigar box and sends a short text to Twonas En. After Twonas arrives, Manteca retreats back to the room, and takes a long drawn-out breath.
A few minutes later, his room has a thick haze through it and he is leaning into his computer intently. "Hey fans - starting today's vidcast with an apology for my radio silence! Things the life of the good Doctor have been crazy - though I suppose now you'll all have to refer to me as Doctor Starfinder moving forward! That's right - I've been brought into a research role with the Starfinder Society! While this may ruin our previous distribution schedule, I promise that you'll still receive the same quality analysis of the many and varied species of the universe so you can get to know your friends, neighbors, and enemies from the inside out."
Manteca then pauses recording for a few minutes to fiddle with some glass contraption.
The shirren exhales deeply and turns the recording equipment back on. "Now to continue our analysis of the vesk..."
Today
Manteca doesn't seem to be his usual chipper self when the party sets off through the aiudara the next day, though he does perk up slightly as the party passes through the elf gates. He almost collides with Jazzming as they walk through, busy as he is trying to watch the elf-gate as he walks.
Manteca looks woefully at his bag, already stuffed with trail rations, that he's been struggling with all day. Tents. That's what I forgot! "Well, Reynotto, I know that you're likely more experienced in healing matters - I have some anti-toxin, but we can split the sprayflesh down the middle?"
Could I roll a Sense Motive to see what's wrong, being slightly suspicious from yesterday
Mrs. Boreal I assume you would be interested in the first three items, I do not specifically need any of these items but would take them if the group deems it appropriate
You get a sense that Boreal is rather irritated with you after address her. You can tell that she is trying not to get irritated but it isn't helping much.
"I will gladly take the armor, and grenade. I am happy with my Doshko though." Boreal says inspecting the items.
She disengages and removes her current Ringwear armor and puts on the new set. "Anyone want this?" she asks holding up the old rings.
EH-RK inventories the supplies given by the Dr.
Human Dr. Khair al-Nuaf: We thank you for this assistance.
Seeing through Manteca's Facade and recognizing some symptoms Reynotto makes note to talk to him about it later
"You're welcome." Dr. Khair al-Nuaf replies to EH-RK.
Manteca has taken the proffered backpack and has meticulously repacked his already-full satchel of supplies into it. The (now) six weeks of food make him audibly groan when he goes to pick up the bag.
"Alright then - that's all I need," the shirren says pleasantly. "Everyone else?"